Issue One

Research/Communications  Intern 

Semester: Fall (September-December 2022)

Status: Part-time Temporary (20-25 hours)
Reports to: Research Director 

Stipend: $16.10/hour 

Location: Washington, DC (Preferred) 

POSITION

Are you a college student or a recent college graduate interested in fighting for a democracy that works for everyone, reducing the undue influence of big money in politics, and protecting our elections? Do you enjoy data analysis, research, and communications work? 

If so, Issue One — the leading crosspartisan political reform organization in Washington, D.C. — has the internship for you!

Issue One is seeking a Fall Research/Communications Intern who can help produce compelling reports and other materials that make a case for bold political reforms, strengthening our critical election infrastructure, and defending democratic elections. 

Our interns are integral members of the team. You will gain hands-on experience in bipartisan outreach and advocacy, communications and messaging tactics, robust research operations, working with current and former elected officials, and much more. 

The ideal candidate will love spreadsheets as much as writing term papers. They will also have an insatiable appetite for ferreting out interesting data from campaign finance filings, polling, academic research, and the far corners of the internet. Ideally, they will also have a good understanding of our political system and some experience doing research and/or writing projects in college. 

Bonus points if you already know how to analyze data using pivot tables. And if you don’t know about pivot tables, we’ll teach you as part of this internship!

This intern will report to Issue One Research Director Michael Beckel, who, before joining Issue One in 2017, previously worked as an investigative reporter for roughly a decade at organizations including the Center for Public Integrity, OpenSecrets.org, and Mother Jones.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct money-in-politics and election-related research and writing projects
• Help maintain databases related to Issue One’s advocacy work
• Monitor news and updates related to money in politics and protecting our elections
• Assist the Research/Communications team with communications research and outreach
• Attend virtual and/or in-person events — such as webinars, speeches, and panels — taking notes about the key points covered and reporting back to other Issue One staff about what was said
• Help with other tasks as required

POSITION REQUIREMENTS

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate program or a recent graduate 
• Demonstrated interest in strengthening our democracy, campaign finance reform, and election issues
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent computer skills (Google Docs/Sheets; MS Office, including Microsoft Excel)
• Strong organizational abilities
• Outstanding attention to detail
• Ability to work independently, as well as with a team

Location

This intern may work remotely or from our office in Washington, D.C.

Salary & Benefits

This intern will be expected to work between 24 and 32 hours per week and be compensated at a rate of $16.10 per hour. Ideally, this internship will last about 14 weeks, from approximately Wednesday, Sept. 7, through Friday, Dec. 16.

How to Apply

Interested applicants can apply by clicking "Apply for this Job" in the top right portion of this page. Please include how you heard about the position and complete the self-identification questionnaire. 

Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Due to the volume of applications, we will unfortunately not be able to acknowledge receipt of all applications. No phone calls, please.

Issue One is an equal opportunity employer committed to maintaining a non-discriminatory work environment. Issue One places a high value on fostering an inclusive workplace, and we are committed to building a team as diverse as the American people. We do not make hiring or advancement or other employment decisions based on race, religion, gender, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, political affiliation, pregnancy, disability, or any other status protected by law. Individuals from across the political spectrum who are passionate about fixing our broken political system are strongly encouraged to apply. 

ORGANIZATION

Issue One is the leading crosspartisan political reform group in Washington, D.C. We unite Republicans, Democrats, and independents in the movement to fix our broken political system and build a democracy that works for everyone. We educate the public and work to pass legislation on Capitol Hill to increase transparency, strengthen ethics and accountability, reduce the corrosive influence of big money in politics, and bolster U.S. elections. Issue One’s ReFormers Caucus of more than 200 former members of Congress, governors, and Cabinet officials is the largest coalition of its kind ever assembled to advocate for political reform.